Lighting system for facilitating the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders



MflrCh 1968 D. w. HORLEY ETAL 3,372,272

LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING THE DIAGNOSIS I AND TREATMENT OF EYE DISORDERS Filed Dec. 7, 1965 United States Patent 3,372,272 LllGHTlNG SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT 0F EYE DIS- ORDERS Donald W. Horley, Winchester, and Donald R. Korb, Boston, Mass, assignors to Donald W. Horley and Donald R. Korb, doing business as Boylston Research Associates, Boston, Mass., a partnership Filed Dec. 7, 1965, Ser. No. 512,165 6 Claims. (Cl. 240-4115) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A lighting unit for eye examination and treatment is arranged for suspension from the ceiling over a vertically adjustable patients chair. The lighting unit includes five fixed 40 watt, 48 inch fluorescent bulbs, three of which produce black light for use in fitting contact lenses and are focused at the same point on the patients eyes, a fourth of which provides direct white light and is also focused at that same point, and the fifth provides three levels of indirect white light. The lighting unit also includes a group of four 20 watt, 24 inch fluorescent lamps and a 3 watt incandescent lamp that is mounted behind the patient. A pushbutton control enables energization of the ten light sources at fixed intensity levels in different combinations to provide comprehensive accurate light environments for eye examination and treatment purposes.

This invention relates to patient treatment apparatus and systems and, more particularly, to patient treatment apparatus and systems incorporating illumination systems and particularly adapted for use in connection with eye examination and treatment.

In the treatment and diagnosis of disorders and defects of the human eye, a variety of instruments are utilized which supplement visual observation by the doctor making the examination, diagnosis and/or treatment. In addition, such examinations often involve the evaluation by the doctor of the response of the patient to external stimuli and the sensing by the patient of particular shapes of characters.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel and improved illumination system which will facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved lighting system which provides comprehensive illumination control in an easily manipulated unit. Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved illumination system which reliably produces a variety of reproducible lighting conditions which conditions are readily selectable during examination or treatment. A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved illumination system particularly adapted to use in the examination and treatment of the human eye in which there is provided maximum freedom and facility for use of appropriate instruments and for observation of the patient by the examining doctor.

An illumination system constructed in accordance with the invention features an adjustable patient support for positioning the portion of the patient to be treated at a predetermined location. The system further includes a fixed illuminating unit which supports a plurality of fixed illuminating elements with a radiation director for each 3,372,272 Patented Mar. 5, 1968 ice element for directing radiation from each element to the predetermined location. In the preferred embodiment, a second unit also supporting a plurality of fixed illuminating elements is arranged to be fixed in position relative to the first unit. The system further includes common controls for both units for convenient selective energization of the illumination elements to provide a spectrum of illumination levels and types compatible with the treatments of the portion of the patient positioned at said predetermined location in the environment in which the system is utilized.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be seen as the following description of a particular embodiment thereof progresses, in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a patient treatment system, with parts broken away, constructed in accordance with the invention for use in eye examination and treatment; and

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic top View of the system shown in FIG. 1.

The system shown in FIG. 1 includes an ad ustable patient support in the form of a chair 10 which is supported for vertical adjustment relative to floor 12 by pedestal 14. The chair includes a head rest 16 which is normally fixed in position during use of the invention for positioning the head H of the patient P so that the position of the eye E of that patient may be adjusted along the vertical line 18 by movement of the support 10.

An illumination structure 20 is fixed in position above the support 10. As indicated in FIG. 1, this structure is supported from ceiling 22 by supports 24 which include a suitable adjusting means such as turn buckles 26 for adjusting the position of the lighting unit relative to the support 10. As indicated in FIG. 1, the illumination structure includes main illumination unit 30 including a plurality of illuminating elements supported in framework members 32 and auxiliary illumination unit 34 which is secured to the main illumination unit 30 in adjustable position relative thereto by the coaction of slots 36 in framework members and locking fasteners 38.

Supported between the side frames 32 of the main unit are five distributed source illuminating elements 40, 42, 44, 46, and 48. Each of these elements is a 40-watt, 48- inch fluorescent lamp. In this embodiment, which is designed for use by a specialist specializing in the correction of eye disorders through the fitting of contact lenses, the lamps 40, 42, and 44 are of the ultraviolet (black light) type available from General Electric under the designation BLB, while lamps 46 and 48 are of the conventional type and provide white light. Lamps 40, 42, 44, and 48 are housed in symmetric specular reflectors 50, 52, 54, and 56, respectively. Reflector 50 is secured to the main frame walls 32 to reflect light at an angle of 8 with respect to the base of the unit (along line reflector 52 is disposed to reflect light from lamp 42 at an angle of 27%. with respect to the base (along line 62); reflector 54 is disposed at an angle of 41 /2" with respect to the base to reflect light along the line 64 and reflector 56 is disposed at an angle of 53 /2 with respect to the base to reflect light along the line 66. It will be noted that lines 60,62, 64, and 66 intersect at a predetermined particular location in space and is that position at which the eye of the patient is located through adjustment of the support 10 for examination purposes.

Lamp 46, positioned between lamps 44 and 48, has disposed in front of it a barrier member 70 and reflector 56 is utilized for directing radiation from lamp 46 via reflector 56 for illuminating the area of examination indirectly.

There may be also housed within the main unit auxiliary equipment such as a chart 72 supported on a roller 74 so that it may be retracted within compartment 76 within the unit when not in use. Additional apparatus (not shown) to alter and/ or occlude radiation to further vary the available radiation levels may be used as desired.

The auxiliary or rear lighting unit 34 houses four 20- watt, 24-inch fluorescent distributed source lamps 80, 82, 84, 86 and one 3-watt incandescent lamp 90 which is arranged to provide a diffuse level of light of less than one foot-candle intensity and preferably in the order of A: to /2 foot-candle. These lamps are mounted on a common framework structure 92 and a diffuser panel 94 is secured to the panel in front of the lamp elements. This auxiliary unit is used to test near vision and provides a range of lighting levels for illumination of reading matter with which the patient is tested.

Control of the energization of the lamps in units 30 and 34 is provided by control console 100 which is connected to the lamp units through cables 102 and 104. The console normally would be located closer to the examination area and its location as shown is merely for clarity of illustration. In this embodiment, that console includes buttons 111-115 which control energization of lamps in the main unit 30 and buttons 121125 which control energization of lamps in the auxiliary unit 34. Button 111 energizes lamp 46 at a low level of intensity of indirect white light (e.g. twelve foot candles), button 112 energizes that lamp at a medium intensity level (e.g. twenty-five foot candles) and button 113 energizes lamp 46 at a higher level of intensity (e.g. fifty foot candles). Button 114 energizes white lamp 48 at the normal level of intensity of direct white light while button 115 energizes the three ultraviolet lamps 40, 42, and 44 to generate black light. With respect to the control for the back lighting unit, button 121 energizes the incandescent lamp 90 to provide a very low level of illumination (less than one foot candle); button 122 energizes one fluorescent lamp of the group 80, 82, 84, and 86; button 123 energizes two fluorescent lamps; button 124 energizes three fluorescent lamps and button 125 energizes all four fluorescent lamps. Additional control functions may be provided for panels 130, 132 as for example, control of room lighting and instrument lighting utilized in connection with the examination and treatment.

It will be seen that this illumination system provides the spectrum of lighting conditions necessary and useful in connection with a particular type of treatment in a manner in which each lighting condition is readily producible (merely by depressing a push button), in which potential shadow conditions are eliminated, in which all the lighting is arranged so that it does not interfere with movements or freedom of access to the patient by the specialist, and in which all the control is centralized and may be located wherever convenient. In addition, each lighting condition has a pre-established level enabling ready calibration of and coordination with instruments used during eye examination and treatment. For example, Where the ultraviolet units are employed, an established level of ultraviolet illumination is provided at a precise and fixed point which greatly facilitates the fitting of contact lenses by well-known techniques.

In operation, the patient is seated in the chair and the chair is adjusted to position the patients eyes at the predetermined location (the intersection of lines 60, 62, 64, and 66). The head support 16 provides a reference so the patients head maybe maintained in the desired position and the examination is carried out with the patient located in this position. This position is typically established as a function of the examining techniques to be performed and the comfort and convenience of the examiner. each precise condition of illumination is selected merely by depressing a button on the console 100. It will be noted that the suspension of the units from the ceiling or other appropriate surface in the treatment area is unobtrusive and yet permits ready relocation if desired.

Various modifications of this embodiment will be apparent to those skilled in the art; and, therefore, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the disclosed embodiment or to details thereof and departures may be made therefrom within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Illumination apparatus for use in an eye examination and treatment environment in connection with a patient support and means for adjusting the patient support to position the eyes of a patient at a predetermined location,

said illumination apparatus producing a multiplicity of reproducible graded levels of illumination at said predetermined location in said eye examination and treatment environment and comprising a first group of light sources fixed in position relative to one another above and forward of said predetermined location for producing a graduated series of reproducible light levels that illuminate both the eyes of the patient at said predetermined location and accessories used by the examiner in connection with eye examination and treatment, at least one of said first group of light sources having associated therewith light directing means for concentrating light from said one source at said predetermined location,

a second group of light sources fixed in position generally above and behind said predetermined location for producing a graduated series of reproducible levels of illumination that simulate reading light intensity,

a third group of light sources fixed in position above and forward of said predetermined location for producing black light for use in connection with the fitting of contact lenses, and light directing means associated with said third group of light sources for concentrating light from said third group of light sources at said predetermined location,

and control means for selectively varying in predetermined steps the energization of said light sources to vary the illumination in said environment during the examination and treatment of the eyes of the patient.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said light source in said first and third groups of light sources is a distributed source that produces radiation along a substantial length thereof.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of said light sources of said first group is mounted for indirect exposure to said common location and further including said control means, includes means for varying the intensity of illumination at said common location as produced by said one source from a low value through an intermediate value to a high value.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said second group includes a light source that is substantially a point source of light and a plurality of distributed light sources.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said light source of said first and third groups is an elongated fluorescent element, said elements being disposed parallel to one another, and disposed in front of said common location and said light directing means directing light along paths which intersect at said predetermined location, the intersection of said paths at said predetermined location being a straight line generally perpendicular to the path of movement of said patient support means as controlled by said adjustment means.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said sec- 0nd group includes a light source that is substantially a point source of light and a plurality of distributed light sources.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Pieper 2404l.15 X James et al 240-1.4 Ries et a1 240--41.15 Giinther et a1. 240--1.4

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

R. M. SHEER, W. M. FRYE, Assistant Examiners. 

